Flare torch



Feb. 20, 1940. R, KQVAC 2,190,928

FLARE TORCH Original Filed March 9, 1936 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 mmv Feb. 20, 1940. R KQVAC 2,19Q,928

FLARE TORCH i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 original Filed March 9, 1936 Kfm N HOPRQMS,

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 y UNITED STATES zinnenA FLARE Tonen Rudolph Kovac, Chicago,` Ill., assigner to American Automatic Devices Co., Chicago, Ill.,Ta corporation of Illinois Application March 9, 199s, serial No. 67,974

Renewed April 14, 1938 s claims. (o1. rsi- 55) My invention relates to iiare` torches of the type adaptedforuse on a highway or the like as a warning signal for approaching vehicles to indi- `cate an obstruction of the way. The laws of a 5 "number of the states require` the use of flags or theirequivalents by day and oi'lighted torches by night in substantially spaced relation along a highway at opposite sides of a truck broken down `onthe highway,and require `that suitable signal 10 devices be carried by all trucks at all `times when travelling on the highway under such conditions as to be immediately available for signal purposes in case of a breakdown. `It has been one of the ,T objects of my invention to construct and arrange 15 my improved flare torches so that they shall, Without any reasonable possibility fof failure, be ready for use for` prolonged periods for pTro` ducing ares capable of being seen readily at T T considerable distancesfwithout at the same time gdbeing .likely momentarily to blind the driver of an approaching vehicle. i i

To these ends, it has been the `object of my invention to provide an improved burner of such a T TT type that the flame shall be hard to extinguish 25iboth when it is freshly lighted and when it` has become thoroughly heated in continued use, that the name `or at least Tthe base portion of the flame be protected from rain, that there shall bTe a `lib- TTeral feeding of air to the iiame and ample oppor- `3d"ztunity for the flame to escape at the top portion of any protecting housing while at the same `time the iiame shall be protected at the critical `point from the effects of a heavy wind fromvany side,

and that the device shall be fully protected when 3"5 out of use against loss of fuel by` splashing or by evaporation and shall be protected when in use against any loss of fuel by leakage from theT` saturated wick or by condensation ofivaporized fuel `on the surface o-fTthe burner` or associated 4d'parts.`

It isfone of the objects of my invention to provide in my improved arrangement aV small drain pan about thewick tube in position to receive any oil dripping from the saturated wick and in posi- 5 *tion to receive any minute particles of oil falling inltheTTzone immediatelysurrounding the Wick,

such drain pan being connected by a small open-` ingwith the upper end portion Toi the Toil recep- T taTcle` so as to permit any oil collecting in` the pan to run back into the receptacle, suchopening between the pan andthe receptaclebeing adapted also for permitting any gases to escape from the r receptacle so as to prevent the establishment of any considerable pressurein theTreceptacle when u it becomes heated. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement in which such pan is incorporated as a part of theframework or supporting means of the burner, this result being attained preferably by the formation T of the pan as the body portion of a spider upon 5 the radially extending arms of which is mounted the housing member by which the bottom portion of the ame is protected against wind and against rain and in connection with which the entrance y 0i` air for combustion and the escape of the hot 10 gases are more or less completely controlled.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved form of` housing member for controllingthe passage of air to the flame and for protecting the flame from the rain and the wind, 15 whereby an ample supply of air may be provided for completecombustion of the fuel and for production of a flame which shall rise a considerable distance above the `wick while at the same time the base of the flame is completely protected El()` against cross currents of air` by which the ame would be likely to be extinguished. It is one of the` objecets .of my invention to providean improved arrangementof this type by which air is permitted to pass upwardly through large open- 2bV ings between the Wall ofthe housing member and its central supporting means into the combustion chamber in thehousing iromwhich inturn the heated gases are free to pass obliquely upwardly and `outwardly with the flame through openings in the side wall of the housing near the top oTf the housing, said side Wall openings being spaced about the housingTand being of such size in the aggregate as compared with the inlet openings T T at the bottom as to prevent the establishment of 35 anysubstantial back pressure in the combustion chamber.T T

. It is another object` of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter spe-l ciiically described. `That which ITbelieve to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth vin the claims. T 4,5

Inthe drawings, f

1 is a face view of my improved flare device, with the snufier cap removed and with a portion of the device broken away at one side;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the device from the 50 opposite side and with the snuffer cap in position;

3 is a` central vertical` sectional View through my improved device, with certain of the parts showing in side elevation;

-Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view 55 The `preferred means bywhich I through the wicktube and its associated mounting and supporting parts; A

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional Views taken respectively at line 5-5 and line 6--6 of Fig. 4; l

Fig. 7 is a vertical `sectional view taken at line 1-1 of Fig. 5, but showing also the combustion chamber housing and portions of the wick and the oil receptacle;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially at une a-s of Fig. '2 but with the wick removed, and with parts broken away at oneside of the wick tube and associated parts for cleard tion upon the receptacle. In the arrangement as ness of illustration; and u Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, being: aseo-` tion taken at line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the several iiguresof the drawings, in which corresponding parts are Aindcated by the same reference characters`-2 indicates a receptacle which in the arrangement 'shown is formed of sheet metal-having an upwardly extending neckk portion 2|, at the top of which the metal is turned inwardly to provide an inwardly extending ange 22at 'the inner edge of which isy provided a downwardly extending anjge 23 in the form ofy locking lugs asis usual in connection with gas tanks oi 'automobiles, for example. At a point just outside of the neck 2| I have providedan annular rib 24 adapted to form a seat for a gasket 25 carried by a metal cap 23 whichis secured in position by means of outwardly extending arms 21y onthe cap engaging with the horizontal arms 28 of "brackets 29 extending upwardly' from thel recep'- f tacle, 20, the arrangementbeing such that the 'gasket 25 is compressed so as to insure a tight closure between the cap 23 and the receptacle 2G. In the arrangement shown, the cap 23y is connected with the receptacle 2Q. by means of a' shown in said Fig. 4. The sleeve portion 32 of 4 the spider is pressed outwardly at one side'as is best shown in Fig. 8 to provide a longitudinally extending groove 36 in the inner face of the `sleeve arranged so as to provide a vent through the sleeve alongside of the wick tube 3|.

For mounting the spider'and the wick tube in l position upon the receptaclel', I have provided va closure plate 3,1` having a downwardlyy extending flange 38 thereabout at its outer edge with a gasket 39 inside-foi the circular flange 35i` adjacent to said plate 31. The closure plate 31is providedl t with a central vopening by which it is mounted upon the sleeve portion 3i! of the spider adjacent to the bottoni of the pan 35o. A metal ring 4i! is also mounted upon the .sleeve 32 inside ofthe gasket 33.5 the closure plate and the ringlillvbeing rigidly Asecured in position upon` the sleeve 32 of v the spider memberby means of a turned lower 'end portion 4|` of the sleeve. Asis clearly shown the Closure plate 31 are both held securely 'against rotary movement with respect to the sleeve 32 and the spider.l As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the

ring 4E] is provided at opposite sides with downwardly extending arms 42 which attheir lower ends are provided with outwardly extending portions 43. The arrangement is such that the gasket 39 is in position to engage the outer edge portion of thev inwardly turned-flange 22 of the neckr portion of the receptacleii, as is clearly shown in Fig. '1, the outwardly vextending arm portions 43 beingl in position to engage the lower faces of the `cam portions` 23 for locking the closure plate 31 and its associated 'parts in posishownA in Fig. 'I` and as above described, it will be appreciated that the groove 36 serves as a vent continuously open from the interior of the receptacle 2li. to the upper face of the spider member comprising the pan 35a.

Asis. best shown in Fig. 4, the outer end portion 44, of each oi the spider arms 33, 54 and 35 isn turned downwardlyi'and is provided in its end facel with a, notch-45 centrally thereof. Upon such arms 33 34 and 35 I have mounted a housing 4,1 formed of sheet metal with a top portion 48 formed integrally therewith, the lower end portionlg of the `housing being oiset outwardly lo'y the provision of an outwardly extending ilange portion 5i), providing a downwardly facing shoulder ,in the housing adapted to seat against the arms with the offset portion 49 iitting snugly about the downwardly turned end portions 44 of the arms. As isbest shown in Figs. '7 and 9, the lower edge of the outwardly offset portion 49 of the housing is crimped inwardly into gripping engagement with the notches 45 in the end faces of the arms for holding the housing rigidly in position upon the arms of the spider. As will be appreciated from aninspectionof Figs. '1 and 8, the housing 41 is held in outwardly spaced relation to the body portion 35a of the spider whereby comparatively large openings are provided between the arms for the entrance of air between the pan 35a and the housing member 41. At'its upper end portion, the housing 41 is provided with a plurality of outlet openings 5| for the escape of the flame and the heated gases as hereinafter described, the openings 5 l being a substantial distance above the upper end of the wick tube 3| and the wick 52 therein. The upperends of the openings 5| extend substantially to the upper endof4 the housing. y

As is clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, the air entering between the body of the spider and the lowenend portion of the housing 41 is adapted to pass vdirectly upwardly to the open-f mil ings 5|, such openings being arranged in circum- Y ferentially spaced; relation with res ect to the` driven in obliquely, and the housing affords complete protection against the entrance of the wind from any direction directlyto the bottoni portion of the flame. By the provision of the large openings betweenthe spider arms-at the bottom of the housing an ample supply of air for combustion is insured at all times, and the provision of. the large outlet openings 5| at the top and the rlocation of such openings closely adjacent to the top wall-48 of the housing-'assure that there shall be very little if any tendency for the establishment of a` pressure condition'within thehousing 41.

In, the arrangement shown, 'the openings be- 55 ture of the receptacle 26 rises through a prolonged tween the spider arms for the entrance of air to the combustion chamber are approximately two and one-half timesas large in the aggregate as tion as shown in Fig. 3, `the device as a whole is adapted to stand in stable position on a highway. For use in the daytime, a suitable flag is mounted in position on the receptacle as a base, the staff 53 of such flag being shown in Fig. 2 seated within a vertical socket provided by a sheath 54 along one side of the cap 26.

For use at night, the cap 26 is removed `and permitted to hang on the chain 3l) so as to be available when desired. With the cap 26 removed, easy access is provided for lighting the wick 52 through one of the outlet openings 5| of the housing, the air necessary for combustion being admitted through the `openings between the spider arms and the flame and heated gases being permitted to escape through the openings 5| from the combustion chamber inside of the housing 41, the flame being adapted to rise a substantial distance above the top of the housing `so as to be visible from a considerable distance. With the burner lighted, the metal parts of my improved device as shown become gradually heated by direct contact with the flame or by conduction from other parts which do have contact with the flame, as is common in all burners in which the name is enclosed more or less completely by a metal housing. See for example prior patent to Thomas and Gorton, No. 558,533, of April 21, 1896. Finally the supply of oil in the receptacle becomes heated more or less so as to encourage combustion. In case any of the oil should become vaporized within the receptacle 20 by such heat, any pressure resultingfrom such vaporization of the fuel inside of the receptacle is relieved and kept to a minimum by reason of the provision of the vent opening through the groove 36. In case any oil should drip from the `saturated wick 52, such oil would be caught by the pan a from which it would run back into the receptacle 20 through the vent opening 36 or would at least be kept from spreading over the surface of the devic It will also be appreciated that as the temperaperiod of use, the fuel and the air in the receptacle are both caused to expand so as to force out through the opening 3B a portion of the air.

,When after a period of use air is forced back into the receptacle through said opening 36 as` the l parts are cooled, such air will have a tendency to carry with it any oil that may have accumulated in the pan about the opening.

As will be appreciated from a study of my improved` device, and particularly from the showing of Fig. 7, the airhas a free sweep upwardly through the combustion chamber from the openings between the spider arms to the outlet openings 51 at the top of the housing. Under these conditions, when oil vapor is condensed within the housing so as to cause small drops of the oil to fall, such drops are deiiected inwardly by the device that substantially au of the fuel is consumed` within the combustion chamber, as isV shown by the fact that in the use of my device` there is practically no collection of fuel on the outer outside surface of the receptacle and prac-` tically no deposit of carbon in or about the housing 41.` For assuring these results, I havemade ample provision for the entrance of air for oombustion and have maintained asuitable ratio between the entrance and the outlet openings so as to insure proper mixing of the fuel and `air and the proper `burning of such mixture.

By the use of my improved arrangement, I am enabled to produce my device very readily and cheaply. The spider, the closure plate 31, the

ring 4D and the gasket 39 are preferably first secured together with the end of the sleeve 32 turned outwardly into' locking position Vat 4|. The wick tube 3| is then forced into position in the sleeve 32 where it is held securely by friction for supporting the wick 52 in operative position, the end portions of the wick tube being then ared outwardly from their normal straight condition to the condition as shown in the drawings. The housing member 41 is crimped at the necessary points for holding it securely in place on the spider arms. All of this assembly Work is performed very quickly and easily and the structure when completed is highly effective. y

` By the provision of the cap 26 adapted to be locked to the receptacle 20, my device is fully protected against any loss of fuel by splashing or by evaporation during months or even years of by direct leakage of the fuel thereon or by evaporation of fuel in the neighborhood of the goods in such manner as to give the goods an objectionable odor. In this way the truck and the goods carried by the truck are also protected against a possible lire hazard since the fuel is definitely confined within the receptacle 2li or at least within the receptacle 20 `and the cap 26. The cap 26 is arranged to be used readily for snufling the flame `when desired by shutting olf completely the access of air to the burner.`

As is clearly shown in Fig. '7, the wick 52 is of substantially greater size than that of the Wick tube 3l, with the result that the wick is considerably compressed within the tube.` As a result of this arrangement, the Wick and fuel consumption are kept to a minimum, the compressed Wick being much less eifective than a loosely mounted wick for drawing the oil upwardly by capillary attraction. This is made possible without danger of the iiames `being extinguished by reason of the improved arrangement of my housing by which the flame is protected Afrom air currents l directly across the housing.

While I prefer to employ the form of device as shown in my drawings, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to such arrangement except so far as the scope of the invention may be so limited in terms in the narrower claims.

I claim:

1. In a iiare torch, the combination of a spider member comprising a body portion and a plurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, a wick tube secured in an opening in said body portion, a housing member closed at the top and having a plurality of openings in its side walls Cil adjacent to itstop wall and. providedwith shoulder. means at its lower end portion inpostion to seat.

on said arms in outwardlyv spaced relation to the body portion of said spider so as to provide openings between the arms for the entrance of air between ,the body portion and the wallof the housing, means for securing said'housing member rigidlyv in position on said arms, a receptacle having an opening in its top face, a closure plate having an opening therethrough in which said wick tube is mounted, and means for securely clamping said closure plate removably in position for closing the opening in the receptacleabout thewicl; tube.

2. In a nare torch, the combination of a spider member comprising a body portion and a plurality of armsextending outwardly .therefrom each bent downwardly at its outer end portion and provided with a notch in its end face, a wick tube secured in an opening in said bodyportion, a housing member closed at its top and having a plurality of openings in its side walls adjacent. to itstop wall and provided with an outwardly offset portion thereabout at its lower end engaging snugly about said arms for'holdng the housing in outfor the entrance of air between the body portion and the wall of thehousing, the lower edge porvtion ofA said housing being crimped inwardly into gripping engagement with the notches in said arms for holding the housing rigidly in position with respect to the spider, a receptacle having an opening in its top face, a closure plate having an opening therethrough in which said wick tube is mounted, and means for securely clamping said closure plate removably in position for closing the opening in the receptacle about the wick tube.

3. In a iiare torch, the combination of a spider member comprising a sleeve portion anda plurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, a

wick tube secured in said sleeve, a housing member closed at the top and mounted at its lower end portion on said arms about said wick tube inA ,outwardly spaced relation to the body portion of .said spider member and having a plurality of openings in its side walls at a substantial distance above said wick tube, a receptacle having an opening in its top face, a closure plate having l an opening therethrough in which said wick tube and said sleeve are xedlymounted, and means for securely clamping said plate removably in position for closing the opening in the receptacle about the wick tube, the arrangement being such Athat a vent is provided leading from the 'upper end of the receptacle to the upper face of the spider.

.4. In a flare torch, the combination of a spider tudinal groove in the inner face of the sleeve and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the sleeve portion, a wick tube secured in said sleeve 'l soas to leave said groove* open in the'form of avent between the tube and the sleeve, a housing member closed at the; top and mounted at its lower. endportion onV said arms about said `wick tube in outwardly spaced relation to the body portion of the spider member and having a plurality of openings in its side wall at a substantial dis.- tance above said wick tube, a receptacle having an opening in its top face, a closure plate having an opening'therethrough in which said wick tube andsaid sleeve are xedly mounted, and means for securely clamping said plate removably Vin position for closing the opening in the receptacle.

5. In a iiare torch, the combination oi a spider member comprising a body portion in the lform of a pan having an opening therethrough with a flange in the form of a sleeve about the opening on the bottom face of the pan and having a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the pan, said` sleeve having its wall pressed outwardly at one side to provide a longitudinal groove in the inner face ofthe sleeve, a wick tube secured in said sleeve so as to leave said `groove open in the form of a vent between the tube and the sleeve, a housing member closed at the top and mounted at its lower end portion on said arms about said wick tube inoutwardly spaced relation to said pan' and having a plurality of openings inits side wall at a substantial distance above said wick tube, a receptacle having an opening in itsl top `face, a closurey plate having an opening therethrough in which said Wick tube and said sleeve extend, a metal ring about said sleeve below said closure plate with the lower end of the sleeve turned outwardly in position for holding the closure plate and the ring rigidly in position with respect to the sleeve and serving also for holding the wick tube firmly in position by frictional engagement therewith, and means carried by 'said ring for holding said plate in tight closure position on said receptacle. K

6,. In a are torch,lthe combination of a spider member having a sleeve formed integrally therewith at the lower end and having a plurality of arms formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, a wick tube extending through said sleeve and held thereby in centered position with respect to the spider member, a receptacle having an opening in its top face, a closure plate lsurroundingsaid wick tube and ceptacle about the wick tube, means for securing said closure plate `removably in position on saidv receptacle, and a housing member pressed in integral form out of sheet metal in the form of a cup secured in inverted position on said arms in outwardlyspaced relation to the body portion of the spider so as to provide openings for the entrance of air between said arms and having a plurality of openings in its side walls at a substantial distance above said wick tube.

RUDOLPH KOVAC. 

